News & AnnouncementsNews & Announcementshttp://www.lifescholarship.org/news-announcements/2015-07-26T13:55:56ZSquarespaceThank You 2015 Applicantshttp://www.lifescholarship.org/news-announcements/2015/7/26/thank-you-2015-applicants.htmlLife Scholarship2015-07-26T13:53:02Z2015-07-26T13:53:02ZTo all our applicants, thank you for applying for the 2015 L.I.F.E. Scholarship. We appreciate your patience while the L.I.F.E. Scholarship Committee reviews the high volume of applications received. We will do our best to announce our Finalists by August. Thank you!]]>Reminder! Application deadline July 1st.http://www.lifescholarship.org/news-announcements/2015/6/13/reminder-application-deadline-july-1st.htmlLife Scholarship2015-06-13T22:41:52Z2015-06-13T22:41:52ZSet your reminders! L.I.F.E Scholarship applications for the Fall 2015 school year must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, July 1st. To apply, click here.

]]>Congratulations to Alexandra White, Second Recipient of 2015 L.I.F.E. Awareness Awardhttp://www.lifescholarship.org/news-announcements/2015/5/15/congratulations-to-alexandra-white-second-recipient-of-2015.htmlLife Scholarship2015-05-15T13:41:36Z2015-05-15T13:41:36ZIn recognition of Put on Purple Day, May 15th, L.I.F.E. is excited to announce Alexandra White as the second recipient of a L.I.F.E. Awareness Award! This outstanding applicant was selected as a 2014 L.I.F.E. Scholarship Finalist but due to the increased demand for our scholarships, was unable to receive one. Thanks to our new annual sponsorship program, the L.I.F.E. Awareness Awards, Alexandra was able to receive funding this year! Allie, as she likes to be called, could not have begun her battle with lupus at a worse time in her life--during adolescence which is a time full of change both physically and emotionally.What once seemed important, like a bad hair day or a missed class assignment, no longer carried the weight it once did. Thanks to newfound friendships with older and more mature friends, Allie learned healthier ways to address her frustrations. This fall, Allie will begin her second year at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where she is double majoring in psychology and marketing.

On behalf of World Lupus Day, May 10th, L.I.F.E. is excited to announce Samuel Wood as its first recipient of the L.I.F.E. Awareness Award. Sam’s battle with lupus manifested with the iconic malar rash and progressively got worse to the point it attacked his joints and kidneys. After months of aggressive medical treatment, Sam entered remission and since then vowed to use his second chance to give back to the medical system. Despite his music degree from Berklee College of Music, Sam will begin medical school this fall. “I want to be a doctor to further the lineage of care and instillment of hope that transformed my life as a terrified patient desperately searching for solid ground.”

]]>L.I.F.E Issues Scholarships in Honor of Lupus Awareness Monthhttp://www.lifescholarship.org/news-announcements/2015/4/27/life-issues-scholarships-in-honor-of-lupus-awareness-month.htmlLife Scholarship2015-04-27T16:23:59Z2015-04-27T16:23:59ZLupus Inspiration Foundation for Excellence (L.I.F.E.) is excited to announce its new annual scholarship program! In recognition of Lupus Awareness Month, L.I.F.E. will be sponsoring at least one scholarship every May known as the L.I.F.E. Awareness Awards. This new program was created to promote awareness, and to reach our goal of representing all 50 states by awarding scholarships to students in states that have not yet been awarded.

The following scholarships will be awarded in May 2015:

On World Lupus Day, May 10th, a sponsored scholarship will be awarded to a 2015 scholarship applicant.

Put on Purple Day, May 15th, a sponsored scholarship will be awarded to a 2014 Finalist. This means YOU! The demand for our scholarships has increased, and we've had so many amazing applicants. In an effort to recognize all of our amazing scholarship finalists, we will be awarding a scholarship to a former finalist, just so you understand how truly wonderful you are. Please note, 2014 Finalists do not need to apply to be considered for the 2015 L.I.F.E. Awareness Award, however, we encourage all of our former finalists to reapply for the upcoming L.I.F.E. Scholarship deadline (July 1st, 2015) if they have not done so already.

There is no application procedure for these scholarships. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must fulfill all requirements listed on our website here and the student(s) must be from either a state not yet awarded a scholarship, or in a lesser represented state. If chosen for this award, students must be willing to share their story.

]]>L.I.F.E. seeks volunteers to assist with the 2015 Jim Click Ford Mustang Rafflehttp://www.lifescholarship.org/news-announcements/2015/3/14/life-seeks-volunteers-to-assist-with-the-2015-jim-click-ford.htmlLife Scholarship2015-03-14T16:57:14Z2015-03-14T16:57:14ZIn 2014, L.I.F.E participated in the Jim Click Jeep Cherokee Raffle selling over 200 tickets to directly benefit the Foundation. In 2015, the prize is even more enticing- a 50th Anniversary Exclusive Ford Mustang valued at $48,190. This Mustang is one of fewer than 2,000 ever made.

Selling tickets for the raffle is a great way to support L.I.F.E. All proceeds from tickets sold on behalf of L.I.F.E. go directly to the Foundation! In addition, previous winners that help sell tickets will have opportunity to renew their scholarship! To sign up to volunteer, please contact President and Co-Founder, Jodi Norton, at 520-299-9234.

Tickets cost $25 for 1 and $100 for 5. The raffle is limited to 100,000 entries so there is a much greater probability of winning the Mustang than winning the lottery.

Instructions:

1. Locate donors! Checks must be made out to Lupus Inspiration Foundation for Excellence. Please have donors write your name in the memo on their check.

The L.I.F.E. team is proud of all our L.I.F.E. Scholarship Recipients! We commend you on your incredible ability to persevere despite the setbacks of lupus. The Foundation would not be possible without all the continued love and support we receive. Each year we develop programs to further our mission to spread awareness, provide resources for those affected by lupus, and most importantly, to award merit-based scholarships to college students with lupus throughout the country.

To further this mission, we are proud to announce the L.I.F.EScholarship Renewal/Degree CompletionProgram to help Scholarship winners secure ongoing tuition costs while also giving support and recognition to another college student with lupus beating the odds!

BRONZE: Requires the student to raise the $500 minimum value of a L.I.F.E. Scholarship plus an additional $100 to help the Foundation award a L.I.F.E. Scholarship to a new applicant. Once $600 is raised the winner will be awarded the $500 renewal scholarship and can move on to the next level.

SILVER: The student receives 50% of any further funds they raise and the other 50% will go to the Foundation to further its cause.

GOLD: This top level requires the student to renew their Scholarship the following year by achieving both the BRONZE and SILVER levels again plus completing a task from a list of to-do-items determined by the L.I.F.E. Team. For completing this level, the student will receive a Certificate of Achievement from L.I.F.E.

NOTE: All levels are subject to change after 2015 as we gather information and suggestions from the winners participating and the L.I.F.E. Team.

If you are a previous winner who would like to take part in the 2015 Degree Completion Program/Renew Your Scholarship please contact L.I.F.E. or our leader Mattie Newman (2014 Winner chosen to lead this program) with any of your questions at: mattiemnewman@gmail.com. You can email copies of your transcripts to life4lupuscholarship@gmail.com.

Jena TrowbridgeL.I.F.E would like to thank donor Jean Bassett from Tucson, AZ for graciously sponsoring student Jena Trowbridge for a $1,000 Scholarship. The funds will help Jena complete her degree at the Remington College School of Nursing in Orlando, FL. Presently, Jena works as a Nutritionist and Lactation Consultant with the Florida Department of Health. According to Jena, “my chosen profession will enable me to fulfill my desire to help others, to expand my knowledge base, and to travel. Throughout my life I have participated in valuable volunteer experiences. I have striven for academic excellence, always wishing to make the most of my education.” According to Jean, “This has been very rewarding for me. You can plan on my sponsorship again next year. “

26-year old Jena Trowbridge was born and raised in the small town of Bath, Michigan. She was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in high school. After gaining acceptance to Western Michigan University, she began undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Despite undergoing treatment, she managed to maintain her status as a full time student while working part-time to cover living costs.

Although education plays a significant role in her life, Jena is active outside of the classroom. She was an athlete in high school, has volunteered for Big Brothers/Big Sisters for seven years, and currently volunteers at local high schools to educate expectant moms on nutrition, benefits of breastfeeding and car seat safety. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, kayaking, yoga, reading and playing basketball.

According to Jena, “I have faced many challenges, balancing work, school, and a chronic disease. My goal is to become a registered nurse so that I can perform tasks that clients cannot do for themselves. This new chapter of my life will continue to grow and develop who I am as a student, professional and individual; I gladly welcome all of these upcoming changes with ample enthusiasm for what the future may hold.”

Jena expressed her gratitude to Jean in a letter stating "I would like to express my gratitude for your financial support in the 2014-2015 L.I.F.E Scholarship. It is because of your generosity that I am able to focus on my studies and pursue higher education. Please know that your generous gift will be used with great enthusiasm, dedication and hard work. On behalf of all of the students working to overcome financial and health difficulties to achieve their dreams, I would like to thank you again for all that you are doing."

If you are interested in sponsoring a future L.I.F.E Scholarship winner, please email life4lupuscholarship@gmail.com.

L.I.F.E. would like to thank each and every donor who contributed to the Jim Click 2014 Raffle. Together, 300 nonprofits raised more than $750,000—a quarter million dollars MORE than was raised in the 2013 raffle. Over the past five raffle campaigns, charities have raised well over TWO MILLION dollars to support local services and programs!

Due to your generous contributions, L.I.F.E. exceeded its goal, selling over 200 raffle tickets. 100% of the funds raised went directly to L.I.F.E and therefore directly to the Scholarship winners. We greatly appreciate your continued support!

]]>L.I.F.E Attends 17th Annual Giant Steps Award Banquethttp://www.lifescholarship.org/news-announcements/2014/11/16/life-attends-17th-annual-giant-steps-award-banquet.htmlLife Scholarship2014-11-16T21:28:00Z2014-11-16T21:28:00ZFrom left to right: Jodi Norton, Richard Lapchick, Bianca AugustoL.I.F.E President and Co-Founder, Jodi Norton, and V.P. of Public Relations, Bianca Augusto, attended the National Consortium’s 17th Annual Giant Steps Award Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Orlando, Florida. The National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS) has spent the past 29 years developing and presenting quality programs designed to help improve the lives of student-athletes—focusing on ethical leadership, teamwork, diversity and inclusion, community service and degree completion programs.

President Richard Lapchick founded the NCAS as a way to use the power of sport to affect positive social change. They educate and empower individuals and organizations by inspiring values-based thinking leading to action that promote social responsibility and equality. The evening was inspiring and presented heart-felt stories of overcoming adversity and how one person can challenge themselves and make a difference in the world.

Richard Lapchick’s wife Ann and daughter Emily were first introduced to Jodi Norton at the 1995-96 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Awards Luncheon in Cape Cod. Richard was the keynote speaker. He stated “The event changed our lives because we were introduced to Jodi Norton, a diver at Columbia University with great athletic gifts, intelligence, an incredible smile, and enormous courage to overcome the obstacles of a life-threatening autoimmune disease---systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)”. At the event, Jodi was selected to receive the Award of Valor based on her success in athletics, academics and community service. She was selected from over 400 nominations. The following year, she was awarded the NCAS and Sport in Society Giant Steps Award in Boston as a courageous female student-athlete.

Jodi Norton with the Lapchick family

The 2014 event brought back many memories for Jodi. In addition, Bianca had the opportunity to meet Richard and meet inspirational individuals. According to Bianca “The most memorable speaker of the night was the recipient of the Courageous Student Athlete Award, Memuna Mansaray McShan. I later realized this was the same award Jodi received back in 1997.” Born in a civil war raged country where rebels attacked her family home, Memuna's right arm was shot resulting in amputation. Memuna overcame many obstacles from refugee camps and separation from her biological family to insecurities and stares as a result of her amputation. “After listening to this young woman’s truly inspirational speech, I realized she reminded me of Jodi. These two women, separated by decades, have in their own ways found the inner strength to share their personal stories and have overcome physical limitations as star athletes. Their stories are both one of hope and triumph; they truly demonstrate what it is to be courageous,” says Bianca.